System and Method for Sport Training

ABSTRACT

A system for training a player of a sport that utilizes a playing ball includes at least two training balls of substantially equal size but unequal mass. Optionally the training balls are lighter and smaller than a playing ball. The method of the present invention includes providing a system of at least two training balls as described. The training balls are thrown to a player using the same arm speed with each throw to train the player with pitches of different flight characteristics arising from the same throwing motion and arm speed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a system and method for sport training. More specifically, the present invention is a system including at least two training balls of substantially equal size but unequal mass for use in a method of training and instructing in timing of action and reaction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in sports that timing is often key to success. For example, timing, along with bat speed and eye-hand coordination, i.e. “seeing the ball,” are often cited as the greatest predictors of success in batting in baseball. However, there have been no systems or methods intended for training players for timing and few systems intended for training players in “seeing the ball.”

For example, one device used to train players in “seeing the ball” is a golf ball sized plastic thermoplastic shell. The intent is to present the player a target smaller than that of a normal ball. However the drawback of these shells, or the similar “wiffle” ball which is a hollow shell with holes therethrough, is that the thermoplastic shell is prone to rupture when struck, especially with a baseball bat. Also, because the shell is hollow, it has a very low density. The result is that it is difficult to impart any flight characteristics, such as spin for curve balls or speed and spin for fast balls, off speed pitches, or the like. Thus, a thrown shell always has substantially the same flight characteristics—flat, straight, and slow compared to a normal ball. It can be seen, therefore, that these shells are not designed for training players in timing and are not particularly suited for long and repeated use in training players to “see the ball.”

Another skill that can be difficult for coaches to teach and players to learn is anticipating pitches for any particular pitch count. While a coach, through experience, can often anticipate which pitch may be thrown in particular situations, players, especially inexperienced players, cannot merely memorize a list of scenarios laid out by a coach. Rather, learning through practice is easier, more likely to be retained, and more likely to become instinctual for the player. However, other than experience and normal batting practice, there is no organized or coherent method or system for training players in anticipating pitches for particular pitch counts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system includes at least two training balls of substantially equal size but unequal mass. Optionally, the training balls are smaller in diameter than a normal size ball for that sport. In an optional embodiment, each training ball has a mass less than that of a normal mass ball for that sport. In an optional embodiment of the system, the training balls look substantially the same. In an alternate optional embodiment of the system, each different mass training ball may be presented in a different color.

A method according to the present invention utilizes a system of training balls including at least two training balls of substantially equal size but unequal mass. Thrown with the same arm speed, the each mass training ball will have a different flight characteristic. For example, a training ball with a first mass may be thrown as a fast ball and a training ball with a second mass less than the first mass may be thrown as an off-speed ball with the same arm speed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a training ball set according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. Referring to FIG. 1, the system of the present invention includes at least two training balls 10, 12 of substantially equal size but unequal mass. This could be accomplished in a variety of ways such as using materials of different densities in forming each training ball 10, 12. For example, in one optional embodiment, a foam of a first density may be used to form a first training ball 10 of a first mass and a foam of a second density less than the first density may be used to form a second training ball 12 of a second mass less than the first mass. The difference in mass will impart to each different mass training ball 10, 12 a different flight characteristic including speed and ability to spin. Additional features, such as surface textures, seams, or the like may be provided to adjust or alter the flight characteristics.

In an optional embodiment, the training balls 10, 12 are smaller than a normal ball for that sport. For example, a normal baseball is approximately 9.0 inches in circumference. In an optional embodiment, the training balls 10, 12 are approximately 1.68 inches in diameter or about 60% that of a normal baseball. The hitter is thus presented with a smaller target to train eye-hand coordination and “seeing the ball.”

Additionally, in an optional embodiment, the mass of each training ball 10, 12 is less than that of a normal ball. For example, in such an optional embodiment, the training ball 10 with the greater mass is still less than the mass of a normal baseball. A normal baseball is approximately 5.0 ounces in weight. This permits a pitcher to stand closer to the hitter for greater accuracy in the training pitches without fearing being struck and injured by a hit training ball 10, 12. Additionally, by using training balls 10, 12 lighter than normal, indoor use is possible because the reduced momentum of struck training balls 10, 12 reduces the potential damage.

The system may include a plurality of training balls 10, 12 in each distinct mass. For example, in one optional embodiment, the system utilizes a total of six balls, with three training balls 10, 12 of each of two masses. It is contemplated that in an optional embodiment each mass training ball 10, 12 may look substantially the same. In such an optional embodiment, the player is trained to watch the training ball 10, 12 itself rather than the pitcher's arm speed to determine the flight characteristics of a pitch.

It is further contemplated that in an alternate embodiment, small differences may exist for each mass training ball 10, 12, such as including visual cues, like printed or molded seams or the like, on certain mass training balls. In such an optional embodiment, visual cues may be utilized to train the player in recognizing certain characteristics of a pitch such as the visibility or invisibility of the seams in addition to watching the ball rather than the pitcher's arm speed.

For example, in a slower pitch the seams of a baseball are more visible than in a faster pitch. In an optional embodiment intended to emphasize this, a training ball 12 with a lower mass may include seams 14 printed thereon while a training ball 10 with a higher mass may lack seams thereon or may have less visible seams 16. Such an optional system would prompt a player to wait on pitches where the seams of the ball are visible but react more quickly in a pitch where the seams of the ball are not visible or not as visible.

In yet a further alternate embodiment, significant visual differences may be apparent. That is, each mass training ball 10, 12 may be completely distinguishable from training balls 10, 12 of a different mass. For example, in such an embodiment, the color of the training ball 10, 12 may depend on the mass of the training ball 10, 12 with at least one mass training ball 10 represented by one color surface 18 and a different mass training ball 12 represented by a different color surface 20. Such an embodiment may be best suited for young and/or inexperienced players who may require additional prompting to learn to adjust to balls of different flight characteristics. Of course, an optional embodiment utilizing different color surfaces 18, 20 may be combined with seams 14, 16 of varying visibility to expand the training value of the training balls.

Turning to FIG. 2, according to the method of the present invention, a system of training balls 10, 12 as described above is provided 30. A pitcher pitching the different mass training balls 10, 12 with a substantially consistent arm speed will produce pitches of varying flight characteristics. That is, a pitcher throws 32 a first training ball 10 at a first arm speed and throws 36 a second training ball 12 at substantially the same arm speed.

The hitter, using visual prompts, if any, and watching the flight of the training ball 10, 12 rather than the arm speed of the pitcher, will be forced to wait varying times before reacting to hit the ball. That is, the hitter swings 34 at a first training ball 10 at a first timing while he or she swings 38 at a second training ball 12 at a different second timing. The hitter is thus trained in timing by hitting training balls 10, 12 pitched with varying flight characteristics, especially speed. In an embodiment in which the training balls 10, 12 are smaller than a normal ball, the hitter is presented with a smaller target. The hitter is thus training in eye-hand coordination by hitting the smaller target and in “seeing the ball” by tracking a smaller object from the pitcher's hand.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that the present invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims presented herein. 

1. A system for training a player of a sport utilizing a playing ball having a normal weight and normal size, comprising: a first training ball of a first mass; and a second training ball of a second mass unequal to said first mass, said second training ball and said first training ball of substantially equal size and said first training ball and said second training ball each having a distinct visual appearance.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first mass and said second mass are both less than said normal weight.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the size of said first training ball and said second training ball is less than said normal size.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the size of said first training ball and said second training ball is substantially 60% of said normal size.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said first mass is less than said second mass and said first training ball includes seams visible thereon.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein said first training ball is of a different color than said second training ball.
 7. A system for training a player of a sport utilizing a playing ball having a normal weight and normal size, comprising: a first training ball of a first mass less than said normal weight; and a second training ball of a second mass less than said normal weight and unequal to said first mass, said second training ball and said first training ball of substantially equal size and said first training ball and said second training ball each having a distinct visual appearance.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the size of said first training ball and said second training ball is substantially 60% of said normal size.
 9. The system of claim 7 wherein said first mass is less than said second mass and said first training ball includes seams visible thereon.
 10. The system of claim 7 wherein said first training ball is of a different color than said second training ball.
 11. A method for training a player of a sport utilizing a playing ball having a normal weight and normal size, comprising: providing a first training ball of a first mass; providing a second training ball of a second mass unequal to said first mass, said second training ball and said first training ball of substantially equal size and said first training ball and said second training ball each having a distinct visual appearance; throwing a first training ball to a player using a first arm speed; and throwing a second training ball to a player using an arm speed equal to the first arm speed such that the difference in mass causes the second training ball to travel with different flight characteristics than said first training ball when thrown with substantially the same arm speed.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said first mass and said second mass are both less than said normal weight.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the size of said first training ball and said second training ball is less than said normal size.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the size of said first training ball and said second training ball is substantially 60% of said normal size.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein said first mass is less than said second mass and said first training ball includes seams visible thereon.
 16. The method of claim 11 wherein said first training ball is of a different color than said second training ball. 